What is your favorite rifle / shotgun for bear and moose?
- Thread starter Dr.Chris
- Start date
Deer don't require a magnum masher, and neither do moose. Someone said the 30-06 was the best all round cartridge. Okay. Fine. So how far back is a 308 or a 280, or even a (gasp!) 270. Buy a rifle that doesn't make you wince every time you touch one off. 6.5X55 is a real good one. Don't write off the venerable old 7X57. I have two ladies in my family that are relatively new to hunting, deer and moose. They both shoot a 30-06. They have both bloodied a rifle. Nothing wrong with the '06. If you want something else, buy it. You can always sell it later and buy an '06. 
Head to the range and beg other shooters to try their rifles (a big box of donuts works here) You'll find what's comfortable for you to shoot, if you're comfortable, you're accurate. Later on you may feel the urge to "Big up" that's the problem with this hobby, one rifle aint enough. Good luck and welcome to the fraternity.
gronski said:
My favorite rifle is a Brno 21 H Carbine (in 7x57).
Min. chambering for your rifle would be the 6.5mm's IMO.
As Savagefan said, go to the range and see if you can shoot a rifle or five. Start with a lighter calibre and work up if possible. Take a rubber slip on pad for those guns with plastic/metal butt plates. If the first shot was not comfortable, do not take another with that gun. I have shot a 7mm Rem Mag that kicked like a mule but have shot a 375 H&H that was a pussycat. It all depends on weight of the rifle, fit of the rifle to you, and stock design. Shoot open sights first before going to a scope if you can.
You may want to update your profile so if someone in your area is going to the range, you may get an invite.
Good luck with your decision.
Now that sounds like good adviceMadDog said:I've been watching this one, it hasn't gotten outta hand yet......yet.
Our new hunter is just looking for some advice and I see a couple posts where he's getting it.
Now if it was up to me to tell him what to do, I'd be looking for a nice Savage 110 or a Stevens 200 in 30-06 with money left over to scope it. Cheap and accurate for the first time hunter and he can pimp it out down the line with a new stock, trigger or barrel. Just my .02.
Demonical said:Here's what I think...
New hunter, wants advice on a deer/ moose caliber.
Alright. Every single time a new/young hunter asks this question I will always tell them to get one of: .243; .270; .308; .30-06. All of these are readily available, ammo is cheap, all of them will handle deer. So if we factor in a moose hunting interest then the .243 gets dropped; .270 is just adequate IMHO for moose. Personally I pretty much always recommend the '06, the single best all-around caliber there is, for new hunters.
I generally reccomend a 30-06 to new hunters, too. Not because it is the single best all around cartridge (it isn't) but because it doens't recoil too bad and practice ammo is cheap.
Advocating our pet cartridge is indeed foohardy, unless it is a common one liek 308/3006/270 etc.
No, I said that Jamisons law suit with USRAC was settled out of court, it's over and done with, and the WSM line of cartridges isn't goign anywhere, anytime soon. It's going to be here, and there will be lots of factory ammo availabe for a Looooong time.
I don't know if it is the single best cartridge, for all new hunters, but it is pretty hard to go wrong wiht it. Depending on where the hunter lived, where and how he hunted, and what he intended to hunt, I may reccomend anythign form a 30-30 on up....
BIGREDD said:I am not sure if you are being serious or pulling my chain Noel???
Super has doctored my quote to relflect his own traditionalist attitude and to pull my chain in good natured fun.
I am neither a fan of the old or the new... but I am a ctitic of those who dismiss all the new technology out of fear or ignorance.
My original post read like this....
As you can see my original post was a preemptive strike at the traditionalists who feel the need to answer every question with a stinging rebuke of any option outside of their own opinion.
I don't disagree with your assessment of the Huskys... they are a fine firearm indeed and one of the best shooters I ever owned was a Husky heavy barrel in .243. The chances are that a used Husqvarna in very good condition is going to cost nearly the same as a new T-3. My point is only that many here dismiss any option if it outside the traditional.
BR, I was serious, usually don't "pull one's chain" unless I first know the person quite well.
I thought maybe you had just been seen the light and let the truth slip out.
I appreciate you trying to use our SuperCub as a scapegoat but now we all really know what you stand for.
I think the reason I keep going back to traditional firearms is I haven't been happy with the warranty service I recieved. I also have a great interest for how things used to built by hand versus machine. If our friend finds a Husky or whatever brand of that vintage/condition, he may pay the same money but it my eyes it is money alot better spent. That is only me tho......
As long as he finds a firearm in a common medium size cartidge and the barrel or action isn't worn out he should do pretty well.
I still think he needs to meet up with some gun nutz in his area and try out what they have. Not on the bench either, but under the condition Lazy Ike mentioned.
Noel
- Location
- South Cariboo, B.C.
I've only just purchased this rifle but it's already been designated as my Moose/Bear rifle.
Sako 75 Stainless Synthetic in 9.3X66 SAKO.
This rifle is extremely accurate and it will easily kill anything in North America.
